Small Business Service

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What forms of advice they intend farmers to use the Small Business Service for.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: In creating the Small Business Service (SBS), the Government intend to provide a strong voice for small business at the heart of government, improve the quality and coherence of business support and help small businesses to meet the demands of regulation. The aim is to ensure easy access to advice and information on regulatory and business issues for all small businesses, including farmers.

General Medical Council: Adverse Findings

Lord Carlile of Berriew: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many National Health Service consultant psychiatrists have been (a) erased and (b) suspended by the General Medical Council in each of the years from 1992 to date; and what was the effect on the consultant's contract of each case of suspension; and
	What arrangements are in place to disseminate in the National Health Service adverse findings made against doctors by the Professional Conduct Committee and Committee for Professional Performance of the General Medical Council; and whether they are satisfied with such arrangements.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: This information is held by the General Medical Council (GMC). They inform us that there was one psychiatrist erased, and one suspended from the Medical Register in 1995, and one suspended and subsequently erased in 1998. Matters relating to a consultant's contract are between the doctor and the National Health Service employer. In cases where consultants are erased from the Medical Register, the contract with the employer becomes void and the doctor is no longer able to practise medicine. In cases of suspension from the GMC register, the consultant is not able to work in the NHS until the suspension is withdrawn.
	It is a contractual requirement that all doctors who work in the NHS are registered with the GMC.
	Adverse findings against doctors made by the Professional Conduct Committee and the Committee for Professional Performance are sent to NHS trusts and health authorities in the form of a Health Service Circular. We are currently reviewing the present arrangements.

Armed Forces Pay Review Report

Lord Clarke of Hampstead: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body report.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The 2000 Report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body has been published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House. We are grateful to the Chairman and members of the Review Body for the work they have put into them.
	In the Comprehensive Spending Review the Government made it clear that public sector pay settlements would need to be fair and affordable and support budgeted public service improvements. In making their recommendations, the AFPRB have taken into account a number of considerations, including the recruitment, retention and motivation of the Armed Forces and have recommended an increase in basic military salary of 3.3 per cent for all ranks, with the exception of Privates, Lance Corporals, Captains and Lieutenants, who should receive 3.8 per cent. An increase of 1 per cent in X Factor is also recommended. The X Factor, which has not been reviewed for five years, is paid as an addition to basic pay and reflects the differences between conditions of service experienced by members of the Armed Forces over a full career and conditions in civilian life, which cannot be taken directly into account in assessing pay comparability. The graduate starting salary is set at £18,126 per annum. There are also some increases in Additional Pay (eg Flying Pay, Submarine Pay and Hydrographic Pay) and in Longer Separated Service Allowance/Bonus.
	These recommendations will fully support the Armed Forces strategic personnel policies, in particular in relation to recruitment and retention, The additional cost to the Defence Budget will be £260 million. This will be met within existing departmental expenditure limits.
	The AFPRB's recommendations are to be accepted in full, with implementation effective from 1 April 2000.

Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service

Lord Bruce of Donington: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to alter the current status of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service (QARNNS) and, if so, how this will affect personnel serving within QARNNS.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Following a comprehensive review, the Queen Alexandra's Royal Nursing Sevice (QARNNS) will be incorporated into the Royal Navy (RN) from 1 April 2000 as the Service's specialised nursing branch. QARNNS is currently a separate Service within the Naval Service.
	This will bring the status of QARNNS into line with that of the Army and RAF. It will also mean that QARNNS personnel commissioned or engaged into the RN from 1 April 2000 will be available for reserve service once they leave the RN. QARNNS ratings currently have no liability for reserve service.
	The terms and conditions of service of existing QARNNS personnel will be unaffected by this change.

Hijacks: Handling Policy

Lord Brabazon of Tara: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in view of the fact that Stansted now handles more than 9 million passengers a year, and those numbers are rising, they will consider designating a less busy airport for hijacked airliners.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: All UK airports must be capable of handling hijacked aircraft, but a particular advantage of Stansted is that it can continue to operate during an incident without a great deal of disruption after the initial phase. Policy on handling of hijacks is reviewed as a matter of course after an incident.

South Yorkshire Objective 1 Programme

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any specific projects are earmarked for recognition by the Objective 1 status monies allocated to South Yorkshire; and what is the reason for the delay in payments.

Lord Whitty: The South Yorkshire Objective 1 Single Programme Document was received by the European Commission on 17 November 1999. Under the Regulations, the Commission has five months to approve the programme. It is expected that the South Yorkshire programme will be approved in principle at the end of March. Until it is approved, no projects can be submitted. However, South Yorkshire partners are making preparations to ensure that projects can come forward as soon as the programme is fully operational.

London Mayor and Assembly Members: Election Expenditure Limits

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they propose to respond to the consultation on the expense limits for the election of the London mayor and assembly.

Lord Whitty: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State announced the Government's proposed limits for candidates' and third parties' election expenditure on 3 February 2000 (Official Report, col. 650).

London Roadworks

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of traffic-impeding roadworks in London, during the most recent three-year period for which statistics are available, were attributable to:
	(a) highways maintenance and improvements;
	(b) works on behalf of essential utilities (electricity, gas and water) or telephone systems; and
	(c) works on behalf of non-essential services (for example, cable television).

Lord Whitty: This information is not held centrally in the form requested. The highway authorities and the utilities co-operate with each other within the framework of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. In London, the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC) co-ordinates and monitors the activities of the utilities' street works. I will write to you to say what information is available in respect of the utilities' works.

M.4 Bus and Taxi Lane

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the trial results for the M.4 bus and taxi lane.

Lord Whitty: The M.4 bus lane pilot scheme is being independently monitored by the Transport Research Laboratory. Details of the performance of the scheme during the first three months' operation of the bus lane were published last November by the Highways Agency and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The results show that all vehicles benefited by reduced average journey times. Subsequent monitoring is showing that these benefits are continuing.
	The detailed monitoring by TRL is continuing. Further results will be released from time to time.
	It is too early to provide details of the effect of the scheme on accidents, but the police who patrol the motorway consider it is now safer.

Organophosphates: Advisory Paper MS17

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the revised version of the Health and Safety Executive's MS17 has been published; and to whom it is to be distributed.

Lord Whitty: Guidance note MS17, now retitled Medical aspects of work related exposures to Organophosphates, has been finalised following publication of the Committee on Toxicity report into organophosphates. It will be published towards the end of March, and copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The specialised advice in MS17 is aimed at doctors and occupational health professionals. Copies will be sent to those consulted in the revision and relevant government departments and agencies. Discussions are still under way with the Department of Health on the most effective methods of publicising the revised document to the defined target audience. Arrangements will be made to publish a summary of the guidance on the Internet, and work is under way to include a reference to MS17 under the section "Information for doctors" on the labels of OP sheep dip products when they are next revised. MS17 will also be available extensively as a priced publication from HSE Books and high street bookshops.

M.11: Litter Clearance

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are aware of the litter on the M.11 motorway between the A.406 and the M.25; what steps they intend to take to ensure that the contractor responsible for its removal clears it up; and whether a penalty for non-performance will be applied to the contractor responsible for this length of motorway.

Lord Whitty: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Peter Nutt, to write to the noble Lord.
	Letter to Lord Marlesford from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Peter Nutt, dated 15 February 2000.
	The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Whitty, has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary Question about litter on the M.11 between the A.406 (Junction 4) and the M.25 (Junction 6).
	Our Term Maintenance Contractors are responsible for litter sweeping and clearance on instructions from our agents, who make regular inspections and safety patrols, plus occasional checks at night. While no penalty is payable, payment for the work would not be approved unless it was carried out to the satisfaction of our agents.
	Weather and other constraints permitting, the M.11 between Junctions 4 and 6 is scheduled for litter picking and sweeping within the next two weeks.
	No exceptional litter problems had been identified recently and no general complaint received about this stretch of motorway, but we do acknowledge that, in spite of our best efforts, during adverse weather conditions or when traffic queues build up, large amounts of litter can accumulate very quickly along any busy motorway.
	If you have any further queries on this matter please contact the Highways Agency's Area Manager, Mike Ford, on 01306 878219.

Rough Sleeping

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the interests of the health, welfare and safety of rough sleepers, they will institute a policy of zero tolerance towards sleeping on the streets where adequate and reasonable accommodation exists within (a) one mile, (b) two miles, or (c) three miles.

Lord Whitty: No. The Government recognise that sleeping rough is extremely bad for the health and welfare of the individuals concerned and are therefore committed to reducing rough sleeping in England to as near zero as possible or by at least two-thirds by 2002. This commitment is backed up by a budget of nearly £200 million over three years.
	One element of the Government's strategy for tackling rough sleeping is to ensure that there is adequate accommodation available. The most vulnerable rough sleepers, however, will need more than accommodation to help them off the streets. Many will have other, more complex, needs, including drugs or alcohol abuse, and mental health problems, and these must also be addressed. Only then can we help rough sleepers to develop a settled and meaningful lifestyle away from the streets.

Young Offenders: Re-conviction

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of offenders aged under 18 are re-convicted following release from custodial sentences within two years and four years respectively.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Estimates from criminal histories of a sample of young offenders who were aged under 18 when discharged from custody in 1987 showed that around 78 per cent were reconvicted within two years of release and around 87 per cent were reconvicted within four years of release. A more recent sample showed that around 85 per cent of those aged under 18 when discharged in 1995 where reconvicted within two years; a comparable four-year reconviction rate is not yet available.

Extradition Requests: Secrecy

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For how long it has been their policy not to reveal whether requests for extradition have been received in individual cases; and what are the reasons for such a policy.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: It has always been our policy not to reveal the existence of an extradition request in advance of an arrest taking place, since to do so could enable the subject of such a request to evade extradition proceedings.

General Pinochet: Extradition Request

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On which date they first revealed that an application had been received for the extradition of General Pinochet.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The request for the extradition of Senator Pinochet was transmitted to the United Kingdom police via Interpol, from the Spanish authorities, on 16 October 1998, and his arrest took place on the same day. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary first made a statement to Parliament about the case in another place on 22 October 1998, Official Report, col. 1205.

Organophosphate Pesticide Approvals: Manufacturers' Data

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, in conjunction with the Pesticides Safety Directorate, relating to their assessment of the health effects of organophosphates, have asked manufacturers to provide data relating to the effects of organophosphates on human immune, endocrine and reproductive systems.

Baroness Hayman: The information required to support pesticide approvals is detailed and comprehensive. It is designed to detect all key adverse effects. These include potential effects of the compound on human immune, endocrine and reproductive systems.

Agriculture Development Scheme Projects

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the costings for each project announced under the Agriculture Development Scheme on 2 February and the length of each project.

Baroness Hayman: The size of individual awards is commercially confidential, but these grants range in value from £5,500 to £100,000. It is a condition of the scheme that all projects must be complete and claims for grant submitted by 30 November 2000.

BSE

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish in the Official Report an updated table showing the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain each week in 1999 and in the current year to date, together with the moving annual total of cases reported in each 52-week period.

Baroness Hayman: The following table shows the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain during each week of 1999 and in the current year to 3 February, together with the moving annual total of cases reported for each 52-week period.
	
		
			 Week Number Number confirmed each week 52 week Total Reported 
			 1999 
			 1 16 4,232 
			 2 131 4,226 
			 3 90 4,173 
			 4 90 4,150 
			 5 50 4,126 
			 6 127 4,119 
			 7 46 4,079 
			 8 74 4,052 
			 9 149 4,024 
			 10 72 4,019 
			 11 91 3,999 
			 12 60 3,974 
			 13 53 3,942 
			 14 31 3,908 
			 15 74 3,875 
			 16 44 3,849 
			 17 59 3,822 
			 18 48 3,813 
			 19 23 3,820 
			 20 66 3,780 
			 21 72 3,786 
			 22 19 3,770 
			 23 24 3,761 
			 24 15 3,737 
			 25 71 3,723 
			 26 79 3,697 
			 27 50 3,662 
			 28 30 3,642 
			 29 38 3,632 
			 30 50 3,599 
			 31 63 3,591 
			 32 61 3,557 
			 33 26 3,532 
			 34 21 3,490 
			 35 17 3,473 
			 36 73 3,431 
			 37 51 3,412 
			 38 74 3,387 
			 39 15 3,358 
			 40 13 3,315 
			 41 33 3,270 
			 42 82 3,259 
			 43 76 3,196 
			 44 23 3,155 
			  
			 45 23 3,124 
			 46 33 3,094 
			 47 38 3,088 
			 48 35 3,069 
			 49 19 3,044 
			 50 28 3,016 
			 51 32 2,994 
			 52 0 2,984 
			  
			 2000 
			 1 33 2,957 
			 2 60 2,906 
			 3 13 2,874 
			 4 25 2,846 
			 5 13 2,818 
		
	
	Note: 1999 Week 1 is the week ending Friday 8 January.
	2000 Week 1 is the week ending Friday 7 January.
	As a result of the sampling of heads from cattle slaughtered under the Over Thirty Month Scheme (OTMS) during the first quarter of 1999, an extra 18 BSE cases were confirmed. These have been included in the figures for confirmed cases for week 30. These 18 OTMS survey cases are excluded from the column for reported cases as they were not reported and placed under restriction while alive.
	The data for reported cases excludes one private submission which was included in data already supplied to the noble Lord, Lord Marlesford, by my predecessor, my noble friend Lord Donoughue, on 29 July 1999, Official Report, col. WA 221. This private submission, which tested positive, remains recorded as a confirmed case.
	It should be noted that the rate of confirmation may not closely reflect the progress of the epidemic. This is because there may be a variable and sometimes long delay between slaughter and confirmation as a result of delays in laboratory diagnosis and administrative procedures. The delay between slaughter and confirmation is on average six to eight weeks, but may on occasion be considerably longer.

Agriculture Development Scheme Awards

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What projects have been awarded grants under the Agriculture Development Scheme 1999; how much has been awarded to each project; and what criteria were used when awarding the grants.

Baroness Hayman: As my right honourable friend the Minister announced on 2 February, 47 awards of grant totalling £2 million have been made under the Agriculture Development Scheme 1999. A list of the successful projects is given below. The size of individual awards is commercially confidential but they range in value from £5,500 to £100,000.
	Each application was assessed against the following criteria: the abilities of the proponents to deliver the project, and their financial viability; the requirement for grant to progress the project; the economic difficulty being experienced by the sector targeted, the proportion of primary producers within the sector likely to benefit from the project and the duration of that benefit; the likely benefit to the agri-food economy as a whole; the relevance of the project to the issues facing the sector; value for money; the quality and credibility of the application; and the quality of proposals for disseminating the results of the project to relevant interests.
	
		
			 Sector Lead organisation Project title 
			 Pigs Assured British Meat National assurance database information and administration system (pigs module) 
			 Pigs Assured British Meat ABM Assured British Pigs Scheme data merger 
			 Pigs BOCM Pauls Ltd Maximising pig carcass value 
			 Pigs/organic Eastbrook Farm Organic Meats Ltd Growing the organic pigmeat market from a UK production base 
			 Pigs Food Trak plc Traceability in the pig meat supply chain 
			 Pigs JSR Farms Ltd Integrated pig meat supply initiative 
			 Pigs Ladies In Pigs A catering colleges initiative to secure the future for British pigmeat in catering 
			 Pigs Meat & Livestock Commission Project 2: improving supply chain communications 
			 Pigs National Pig Association A risk management initiative for the UK pig industry 
			 Pigs United Pig Marketing A shared IT and information system for UPM and its supply chain partners 
			 Pigs University of Aberdeen A training package for the British pig industry using multi-media technology 
			 Beef Glendale Beef Producers Glendale Beef Producers initiative 
			 Beef/dairy Warwickshire Quality Calves Improving the value of beef calves from the dairy herd 
			 Dairy National Milk Records plc Proposal for a south-west dairy information network 
			 Dairy/organic Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative Design and initial implementation of a novel technology transfer and quality management system on organic dairy farms 
			 Dairy/speciality Business Link Bradford & District Feasibility study into potential for a yoghurt production facility for the Asian community 
			 Eggs British Free Range Egg Producers Association British Free Range Egg Marketing Company Ltd 
			 Sheep British Sheep Dairying Association Implementation of structural development of the sheep dairy sector 
			 Sheep/speciality Business Link Bradford & District New routes to new markets--investigation into ways of making better use of sheepmeat products to the benefit of producers 
			 Wild boar The British Wild Boar Association To improve collaborative marketing activity between primary and secondary producers of British farmed wild boar 
			 Livestock general Assured British Meat Multiple retail caterers--food safety assurance module 
			 Livestock general Assured British Meat Assurance chain--focus farms 
			 Livestock general/regional/ speciality Assured British Meat Assurance and food heritage 
			 Livestock general Farmway Ltd Marketing co-operatively produced branded port, beef and lamb through "Farmway" co-operative stores: a feasibility study 
			 Livestock general Harper Adams University College Building regional enterprise and agricultural competitiveness through IT (Breakthrough-IT) 
			 Livestock general Meadow Valley Livestock Ltd Improving farmers' efficiency and returns by directing them to market led, added value marketing schemes 
			 Livestock general South East Primestock Producers (SEPP) Ltd A plan for regional growth and farmer 
			 Livestock general/organic/ speciality Humane Slaughter Association Mobile slaughter unit 2000 
			 Nursery stock Horticultural Trades Association A project to influence structural change in the landscape supply chain to build value in the soft landscape market 
			 Nursery stock Horticultral Trades Association A project to extend the HTA nursery certification scheme to include the inspection and supply of local provenance 
			 Nursery stock Horticultural Trades Association A project to develop a greater understanding of the supply chain within the nurserystock sector 
			 Onions British Onion Producers Organisation Sector analysis of the onion market 
			 Potatoes Hereward Growers Collaborative marketing initiative 
			 Soft fruit Advanced Marketing Services Ltd Soft fruit development for category management 
			 Soft fruit The Berryworld Producers' Organisation Ltd Development of an integrated traceability system for the soft fruit industry 
			 Tomatoes Tomato Growers Association Investigation into the development of an intergrated quality management system for the British tomato industry 
			 Top fruit Fruition Group Ltd Rationalisation: the basis of a full category player 
			 Horticulture general Checkmate International Benchmarking services for the EUREP GAP framework 
			 Horticulture general Institute of Grocery Distribution Benchmarking the industry 
			 Combinable crops Samuel Rose Ltd Promoting vertical integration through farmer collaboration in agricultural supply chains 
			 Combinable crops United Grain Producers "The Marlborough Group" (working together to improve farm incomes) 
			 Farmers' markets National Association of Farmers Markets Together to market 
			 Direct selling Farm Retail Association Red and Green box scheme feasibility study 
			 Viticulture The Magpie Consultancy Formation of a collaborative marketing company owned by producers and devoted to the marketing development of the wines and vineyards of England 
			 Trout Longford Estate Co-ordinated approach to trout marketing 
			 General Plunkett Foundation Increasing competitiveness in the farmer controlled business sector through the use of best practice benchmarking 
			 General Lantra Increasing the competitiveness of the land based sector

Senior Salaries Review Body Report

Baroness Crawley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the report of the Review Body on Senior Salaries and what are its main recommendations.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: The 2000 report of the Review Body on Senior Salaries, which makes recommendations about the pay of the senior civil service, senior military personnel and the judiciary, together with the annual uprating of parliamentary salaries, is being published today. Copies are available from the Vote Office.
	The main recommendations of the Review Body are:
	an increase from 1 April 2000 of 2.9 per cent in the minimum and maximum values of each of the pay bands for the senior civil service. Within the bands, departments and agencies will determine individual awards on the basis of performance. A further 0.4 per cent of the total senior civil service paybill should be made available to fund additional performance awards for the most senior staff, whose pay has fallen well behind comparable remuneration elsewhere. Promotion to and within the senior civil service should be recognised by a move to a higher pay band and an increase of not less than 10 per cent;
	an increase from 1 April 2000 of 3.3 per cent in judicial salaries, with additional increases for seven senior members of the judiciary as a result of changes in the salary structure at those levels in recognition of their increasing responsibility for judicial leadership and the supervision of the judicial system.
	An increase from 1 April 2000 of 3.3 per cent in the maxima of the pay ranges within which individual salaries are set for senior military personnel.
	The Government have decided to accept these recommendations. Their cost will be met within existing departmental expenditure limits.
	Pay increases for Members of Parliament and Ministers are linked automatically to the increase in pay bands for the senior civil service. Their pay entitlements will therefore increase from 1 April 2000 by 2.9 per cent.